Patient supporting and carrying means for operating and stretcher tables and hospital beds



Feb. 2, 1965 E. T. WICKS 3,167,789

PATIENT SUPPORTING AND CARRYING MEANS FOR OPERATING AND STRETCHER TABLES AND HOSPITAL BEDS Filed July 9, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

EDWARD I WICKS MJW 3,167,789 OPERATING Feb. 2, 1965 E. T. WICKS PATIENT SUPPORTING AND CARRYING MEANS FOR AND STRETCHER TABLES AND HOSPITAL BEDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1962 INVENTOR EDWARD T. WICKS ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1965 E. T. wlcKs 3,167,789

PATIENT SUPPORTING AND CARRYING MEANS FOR OPERATING AND STRETCHER TABLES AND HOSPITAL BEDS Filed July-9, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. E DWARD T W l CKS BY L W A 770E110. Y

Feb. 2, 1965 E T WlCKS 3,167,789

PATIENT SUPPORTING ANb (EARRYING MEANS FOR OPERATING AND STRETCHER TABLES AND HOSPITAL BEDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 9, 1962 40a 40% T jg 40 404 INVENTOR EDWARD T. WICKS ATTORA EY United States Patent 3,167,789 PATIENT UPFGRTING AND CARRYING MEANS FOR .GPERATING AND STRETQHER TABLES AND HUSPITAL BEDS Edward T. Wicks, 133 3rd St, New City, N.Y. Fiied Italy 9, 1962, der. No. 2%,377 4 Claims. ore-s1) This invention relates to means for supporting hospital patients on operating and stretcher tables and hospital a recovery beds and transferring them from the operating to the stretcher tables and from the stretcher tables to the recovery beds. This sequence may, of course, be reversed in transferring apatient from a hospital bed to a stretcher table and then to the operating table.

Essentially, the purpose which this invention proposes. to solve is transferring patients, in no condition to be moved, from one place to another. It is a common prac tice today to handle and lift a hospitalized patient as many as sixtimes during the course of his transfer from hospital bed to operating table and back. Not infrequently does this adversely affect the patients condition. The problem is to move the patient from hospital bed to operating table and back again without unnecessary handling. Prior to surgery the patient is lifted from hospital operating table and, following surgery, he is lifted from operating table to stretcher table and, finally, from stretcher table to recovery bed. These are the basic procedures but there are other handling procedures as Well which add to the discomfort or the patient and sometimes adversely atfect his condition.

The object of this invention is the provision of transferable means for supporting a patient on a hospital bed, stretcher table and operating table, said transferable supporting means being also adapted for transferring the patient from hospital bed to stretcher table and from bed to stretcher table and then fromstretcher table to stretcher table to operating table and back again, all of J this without any unnecessary handling or lifting of the patient. 1

Specifically, the present invention comprises the combination of supporting rails on the hospital bed, stretcher .sections may be moved along said rails from bed to. stretcher table and from stretcher table to operating table,

This may be done with the patient on said pad oretc. table sections and the same pad or table sections may support the patient either in bed or on the stretcher and operating tables.

The invention isillustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which: 7

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pivotally linked series of pad or table sections forming part of and used in connection with the present invention.

' 1 FIGURE 2 is a transverse section through one of said pad or table sections taken on the line 22 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of said pad or table section. 'FIGURE4 is a transverse section through a railed support for said table sections or pads, said railed support being a stretcher or operating table or hospital bed or the like. i I

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through such railed support showing one of the pads or table sections mounted thereon and locked thereto. FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of one of the links joining adjacent pads or table sections.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section on the line '77 of FIGURE 6.

' struction.

of said operating table.

, aismsa Patented Feb. 2, 1965 FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, showing one of said pads or table sections slidably mounted on a pair of supporting rails. I

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a stretcher table supporting .a pair of parallel rails and adapted to serve as FIGURE 11 is a side view of the stretcher table shown in FIGURE 9 showing said linked pads or table sectionsj mounted thereon and covered by a continuous pad.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary plan View of said stretcher Q table as shown in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a section on the line 131 3, of FIG- URE 12.

FIGURE 14 is aplan view of the operating table shown in FIGURE 10. 7

Referring now to the details of the invention asset forth in the accompanying drawing, it will be noted that' a typical patient supporting and transferring meansas herein claimed includes a plurality of table sections '10, I2, 14 and 16, which may be made in any predetermined dimensions and of any selected shape, materials and con- Since the present invention is intended for hospital use it will, of course, be understood that hospital approved materials and designs are required for sanitary and other purposes. Since the present invention is intended to be applied to conventionaloperating tables, such as operating table 40 shown in FIGURE 10 of the drawing, the shape and size of these table sections and their spacing should correspond substantially to the shape, size and spacing of table frames 49a, 40b, 49c and 40d In this connection it will be understood that operating table 40 is simply an illustration of the many kinds of operating tables which are in conventional use today. The relative spacing of the table top frames of any conventional operating table and their respective shape and dimensions will dictate the corresponding specifications for the table top sections-10, 12, 14 and 16.

It will be noted in FIGURE 1 that the links 18 connect each adjacent pair of table top sections 10, 12, 14 and 16.

' These links are pivotally secured to said table top sections and they function not only to connect the several sections but also to space them from each other in predetermined relationship and permit them to pivot relative to, each other. In this connection it will be understood that the several table sections or frames 24a, 24b, 24c, and

Illustrative of these operating positions are those which are commonly known as the lithotorny, proctoscopic and laminectomy positions. Whatever position the operating table is adapted to assume is a position which the table sections it? to 16 inclusive must also be capable of assuming. Links 18 may be connected to the table top section 10 to 16 inclusive by any conventional means. However, it

has been found desirable to permanently connect them at one end and to detachably connectthem at the op- A thumb nut or butterfly I permit of disengagement of'the several table sect ons 10,

I [on diametrically opposite sides thereofi Saidtoothed to '16 inclusive, frorn each other.. The link Construction f is best shown in FIGS; 6 and 7 of the drawing.v g 1 v 7 It will be observed in FIGS. 2 and. 3 that, each table section 10,12, 14 and ld is-provided with a pair of channels 22. Preferably, these channels extendlongitudinally of each said tablesection, one along each side edge thereof. These channels arev disposed in parallel relation to each other fora purpose and function which willshortlyappear. The precise shape of these channels is not significant. Apreferredshape is that-f a longitudinally split" cylinder, the split or opening facing downwardly.

Reference, should now be made to FIGS. 4 and; 5 of the drawing where it will be seen thata pair v of rails 24- are I mounted on a table top orframe 26 which may be the top w of a stretcher table or any other movable or stationary support or carrying meansfor a patient. These rails'24 a'reshaped and spaced to correspond andcomplement the shape and spacing of channelsZZ, thereby permitting said channels to slide longitudinally upon said rails in order to assume their relative positions shown in FIGURE 5 of thedrawing. These rails may be mounted on any suitable'support, such as supporting member 26 or any open frame member such as will shortly be describedin connectionlwith the stretcher and operating tables which are illustrated in, the drawing.

Similar rails 2422, 24b, 24c and 24d may be mounted on frame sections 40a, 4615496 and 4th! of the operating table 40. Similarly, rails, 54 of like cross-sectional con: 1

figuration may be mounted on frame 52 of stretcher table 54). The difference between rails 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d -.on the operatingtable and rails 54 onthe stretcher table is that in the case, of the operating table each pair of rails vmust be pivotally mounted with respect to the other pairs of rails, whereas on the stretchertable the rails may be fixed. See FIGS. 9 and 10.

In the use of'the present invention a plurality of table top sections 10, 12, 14 and 15 may be, placed upon rails 24 on'a'supporting structure 26. 1 For purposes of illustration, said supporting structure maybe assumed to be a e hospital emergency table or bed or any other like structure. Mounted on said tabletop sections 10, 12,14 and wheel is mounted on a shaft 37 to whicha handleSS is with holes 32a in channels 22 and that corresponding holes 325 are formed inrails 24i When theseiholes 32a and 325 are aligned, it isp'ossible for bolts 39 and 36a to pass through them and thereby to lock the channels 22 and .rails 24..against relativelongitridirr'al movement;

This may be effected by means of handle38.-. When said handle is rotated in .one direjctiori,v toothed bars 3 ano 314a move outwardly toward the sides of the table sections and bolts 36 and 39a, areithereby moved into locking en- .gagement with rails 24. When the: handle is rotatedin the opposite direction said toothed bars move inwardly and said bolts are retracted from said locking engagement. It will be understood that thislocking procedure may be eflected on the stretcher table and operating table and on any other supporting structure on which the table sections rate, 14 and 16 maybe mounted; Allthat-is needed. I is a series of holes 325 in the railsiadapted to register with holes 32a in the channels.v y

.The foregoing is illustrative of .a preferredjform of the invention and it will be understood that modifications may be incorporated thereinwithoutdeparting from the .basic' principles of the invention. For example; the rails and channels which ride on them may be of any desired cross-sectional configuration. "The precise shape shown in the drawing is purely illustrative, The bed.

locking mechanism which is shown in the drawing is also purely'illustrative and any other suitable locking mechanism may be'used to prevent dislo'dgment of the table top sections with respect to their. supporting rails;

What is claimed is 1. Patient supporting and transferring meansfor patient 5' supporting units such as hospital beds andttretcher and operating tables, comprising thecomhination'iof a pinrality of segmented rails mounted on each of saidunits v and a plurality of platform sections, slidably. mounted on 16 may be a continuous pad of any suitable material.

The patient would lie upon said pad for examination or t mother purposes. On the'assumption that a surgical opera tron is required, it would then be necessary tornove the patientfrom said supporting structure'26 to the operating table {it The table sections 10,12, 14 and 16 would then be slid longitudinally from rails 24 to rails '54 of a the stretcher table 50. This may be done by simply placing the stretcher table rails adjacent to and in alignment withrails 24 of the supporting structure 26. The table sections 10, 12, 14 and 16 could then bernovedlongitua dinally onto rails 54 withoutdisturbing the patient. The

stretcher table would then be moved to a point adjacent oneend of the operating table and rails 54 would be placed in alignment with rails 24a, 2411,240 and Md. The table sections 10, 12, 14 and 16 would then .bejnovcd once again, thistime from rails 54 to railsl24a, 24b, 24c

and 24d. Once again, there would be no disturbance --to position suitable for any operating procedure.

"In connection with the operating procedure, it may be found necessary to pivotthe several operating table sec tions 49a, 40b, 40c and 40d relative to each other and this would involve pivotally: rearranging the positions of the table sections 10, 12, 14 and 16. To prevent accidental dislodgment of said table sections relative to said operating table frame sections,'a locking means is .provided as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Within 'each' table section, is a locking mechanism consisting of a pair of locking or bearings 32 which are secured to channels 22. Con

nected to said bolts 30 and 30a is a pair of toothed bars 34 and 34a respectively, which engagea toothed wheel 36 bolts 30 and 30a mounted within a pair of collars I the segmented rails of any one such unit for slidab-le movementonto the rails of any 'otherof said units, each .said unit being provided with a plurality of pairsof rails, the. rails of each pair being disposedin spaced parallel re lation-toeach other, and each said plat-form section being provided. witha pair of. parallel rail engaging bearings sp'aced-foralignment with said pair of parallel rails, each parallel pair of rails of each unit'being 'aligned'with all of the other parallel pairs of rails on the same unit and the parallel rails of each unit being spaced for alignment.

with the parallel rails of anyotherunit, said platform sections being slidablymovable on their respective rail engaging bearings from one pair of parallel railsto another on any one ,unitland from the parallel railson anyone unit 'to the parallel rails of any other unit.

j 2. The combinationof claim 1 wherein each hospital unit, is provided with four pairs of parallelrails, there being four platform sections adapted to be supported thereon.

" 3. The combination of claiml Wherein the several platform sections are pivotally linked to each otherf.

v the patient and he would be brought into an operating one platform section and at least one parallel'pair of rails.

' 4. The combination of claim'l whereinlocking means are provided between the rail engaging bearings .of at least References Cited by the Examiner FRANK B; SHERRY, Primary Earaminer. t

' connected. fItwill be notedthat collars 321a're aligned 

1. PATIENT SUPPORTING AND TRANSFERRING MEANS FOR PATIENT SUPPORTING UNITS SUCH AS HOSPITAL BEDS AND STRETCHER AND OPERATING TABLES, COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF SEGMENTED RAILS MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID UNITS AND A PLURALITY OF PLATFORM SECTIONS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE SEGMENTED RAILS OF ANY ONE SUCH UNIT FOR SLIDABLE MOVEMENT ONTO THE RAILS OF ANY OTHER OF SAID UNITS, EACH SAID UNIT BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF RAILS, THE RAILS OF EACH PAIR BEING DISPOSED IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER, AND EACH SAID PLATFORM SECTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF PARALLEL RAIL ENGAGING BEARINGS SPACED FOR ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PAIR OF PARALLEL RAILS, EACH PARALLEL PAIR OF RAILS OF EACH UNIT BEING ALIGNED WITH ALL OF THE OTHER PARALLEL PAIRS OF RAILS ON THE SAME UNIT AND THE PARALLEL RAILS OF EACH UNIT BEING SPACED FOR ALIGNMENT WITH THE PARALLEL RAILS OF ANY OTHER UNIT, SAID PLATFORM SECTIONS BEING SLIDABLY MOVABLE ON THEIR RESPECTIVE RAIL ENGAGING BEARINGS FROM ONE PAIR OF PARALLEL RAILS TO ANOTHER ON ANY ONE UNIT AND FROM THE PARALLEL RAILS ON ANY ONE UNIT TO THE PARALLEL RAILS OF ANY OTHER UNIT. 